The "Evergreen Tree" of the Crypto Venture Capital World Bows Out: Arianna Simpson Ends a16z's Six-Year Journey and Plans to Establish a New Fund.
Major Announcement: On January 24, 2026, a16z Crypto General Partner Arianna Simpson announced her official departure on the X platform. This core figure, who worked at a16z for six years, has decided to return to the "entrepreneurial model" and is planning to set up a new fund that covers a broader scope across vertical fields.
Six Years of Achievement: * Background: Before joining a16z in 2020, she was already a well-known evangelist in the crypto space, having founded Autonomous Partners and being an early staunch supporter in the field.
Representative Cases: During her time at a16z, she was deeply involved in several landmark investments, including Celo, Dapper Labs, MakerDAO, and Web3 social/gaming projects such as Blackbird and Azra Games, driving a16z's expansion in the Web3 gaming and consumer applications sector.
Mentor Tribute: a16z Crypto founder Chris Dixon expressed high praise for her, calling her a "pioneering supporter" of cryptocurrency. Arianna responded that Dixon's investment framework has been integrated into her professional DNA, and even if she establishes her own path, she will continue to uphold this logic.
Industry Impact: At the beginning of 2026, with several partners from established giants like Paradigm and a16z choosing to "independently form teams," the market is witnessing a wave of new boutique funds led by seasoned GPs, which will inject a more diversified exit perspective into the primary market in 2026.